adidas Gala report

Tuesday night update – Just returned from the adidas Energy Boost Gala at Fleet Feet. I guess I missed the big crowd and adidas presentation earlier in the evening, because I was helping with 4th grade math homework. Running is a priority, but my kids are THE priority. None-the-less when I arrived there was still a good crowd and a nice spread of food, coffee, wine, beer and desserts. I really enjoyed playing with the Boost interactive displays (especially the bouncing metal balls – see video in Monday’s post) and talking running shoes with other runners while drinking a beer. Not a bad way to spend part of the evening. We really are lucky to have a running specific store like Fleet Feet in our own backyard.

Before the beer I did take a test ride in the new Energy Boost shoes. These new shoes do run a 1/2 size small. I am always a size 9.5 in my New Balance, but wore a size 10 which felt perfect. The upper was very form fitting, but flexible and oh so comfortable. Just standing in the shoe and pressing down on the heel you could feel the extra cushion over my traditional shoes. I only ran in them for a 1/2 mile or so, so no long term analysis here, but they did feel very comfortable, but not overly bouncy. I liked them. A lot. I really did not want to take them off. I was not the only one that liked these shoes. When I left Fleet Feet had already pre-sold about a dozen and a half pairs.

They are priced at $150. About $30 more than my New Balance 940′s. However, besides the Energy Boost cushioning advancements, the other major engineering benefit that adidas is marketing is that the new midsole will last 2-3 times longer than the average EVA foam midsole. In speaking with the adidas rep, Paul, these claims have been proved in both their labs and the Runners World labs. So if the rest of the shoe holds up, you should need to buy these less often, thus saving you money (here is to hoping your significant other listens to reasoning).

So did I buy a pair? Not yet. Why not? I almost stopped running in 2006 because of knee pain. Then Fleet Feet fitted me in stability shoes. I have not had knee pain since. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. However, when adidas launches their Boost stability shoes this summer I will be standing in line to try them out…but never fear – I still went home with a new pair of kicks ;-). Can’t wait for tomorrow’s run!

4 Responses

I did get a pair and I can’t wait to pick them up today! I love the soft cushion and the comfort of the top of the shoe which seems to mold around your foot. It was a wonderful event and a shout out to Fleet Feet for being the 1st store in the US to sell these shoes.

I’ve had my boost for a week now. Wore them on my long run this past weekend. I do like them, they are comfortable and light. Several of my friends got them and love them. They feel a little extra spring in their step I really like the way the top of the shoe molds to your foot due to the material used. I will continue to train in them and see how I adjust to them. So far so good!